Joaquin Phoenix Gets A Whole Lot Of Support From Cleft Palate
Community

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (Wireless Flash - FlashNews)  Joaquin Phoenix
is considered a frontrunner for a Best Actor Oscar for his
performance in Walk The Line, and hes getting a
whole lot of support from the cleft palate community.

Its not just lip service. Phoenix was born with the
birth defect but managed to become a success despite it, and as a
result, the members of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial
Association are rooting for him to win.

Spokeswoman Nancy Smythe figures a Phoenix nomination or win
will raise awareness of the condition, which is the most common
birth defect in America, striking 1 in 600 births.

Smythe admits her organization hasnt been in formal
contact with Phoenix but hopes he will volunteer his time to do
public service announcements like Prison Break cast member
Stacy Keach, who also was born with the defect.

Interestingly, Keach may have a direct route to Phoenix since
his brother, actor James Keach, co-produced Walk The
Line.